Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill

In the wake of the global pandemic, and the human rights and social challenges faced in 2020, ervk found it necessary to respond by developing a new program that could deliver on its long-standing mission of perpetuating Eleanor Roosevelt's legacy and work as an advocate for human rights and a champion for social justice. The "where human rights begin" program was developed as a four-part series to engage the power in true storytelling, open dialogue, and the act of bearing witness to the impact of systemic and cultural injustice, inequality and exclusion. Each of the four programs included four parts: part i. In partnership with tmi project, featured storytellers share personal narratives directly tied to their experience as a member ofone or more of the following (but not limited to) populations: women; black/brown americans or bipoc; the lbgtq+ community; immigrants or refugees; persons with disabilities or special needs; and/or those from any other marginalized or excluded group; part ii. Storytellers engage in a structured dialogue-based interview with q&a;part iii. A facilitated workshop which participants can engage around resonant themes by way of personal reflection, writing and sharing; part iv. The closing segment of the program connected the audience to non-profit and ngo's organizations working to address key human rights/social justice issues in an effort to engage individuals in education, allyship, and advocacy. Program goals: deepen public awareness of the prevalence of social injustice; encourage public understanding of the importance of upholding human and civil rights; promote civic engagement and advocacy in support of protecting those rights.